It seems the time is right for big announcements these days, as Hideo Kojima is teasing a big announcement for the coming weekend.
E3 2010: Metal Gear Solid Rising detailed
On June - 14 - 2010
MGS Rising is unlike anything we’ve seen before, according to the game’s producer. It’s based on a Japanese philosophy of Zan-Datsu, in Japanese, Zan means to cut, datsu means to take. The general theme of the game is to “cut”, a word that appeared numerous times during the gameplay footage. This explains all the “cut-scenes” on the Kojima Productions main page.
Gameplay footage was show off and Metal Gear Solid Rising appears to be something akin to a beat ‘em up, only with a sword. No word on whether or not it will use Kinect. You can also cut up watermelons, which the game’s trailer showed off in traditional Kojima humour.
Raiden has officially become a badass.
Kojima Productions adds special E3 countdown
On June - 11 - 2010
As we’re all gearing up towards E3 various game companies are putting out countdowns for game announcements at the conventions. The stranger of which being the one posted earlier today by Kojima Productions. As we all know, Hideo Kojima likes to fuck with our heads every once in a while.
Kojima did mention in an interview earlier this year that his upcoming title would challenge a certain type of taboo. Considering the ongoing theme of things being cut in the countdown teaser, could it be he’s tackling suicide or self-harm? Or maybe I’m just suffering from symbolism overload, not to mention feeling like The Architech from the Matrix trilogy. All will be revealed in about three days.
Kojima teaming up with Square Enix?
On June - 7 - 2010
Shinji Hashimoto, one of the Square Enix suits, and the guy in charge of their twitter account, tweeted today to tell us about a collaboration between them and Hideo Kojima. Above is a picture of the meeting, with Kojima on the right, Hashimoto in the middle, and MGS art director Yoji Shinkawa.
Now, this may be nothing. They have collaborated before, Square doing the figures for Peace Walker, as well has having Front Mission Evolved items appear in the game, so this may be nothing more than that. Still, info like this is enough to get the fan gears churning.
Peace Walker’s 40/40 score may be untrustworthy
On April - 26 - 2010
TGV previously reported that Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, the highly anticipated PSP title from Hideo Kojima, got the rare 40/40 score from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. Now it seems this score possibly can’t be trusted.
After the score was announced, Kotaku‘s editor in Japan, Brian Ashcraft, reported that Famitsu may have a conflict of interest. Not only do they appear in the game’s in-game advertising, the president of Famitsu’s publishing company, and former editor of Famitsu, appear in magazine ads and on the website of the game. The review mentions nothing about this conflict of interest.
Further complications surfaced today, when both Konami and Famitsu contacted Kotaku Japan (who are owned by a different company, but republished the article in Japanese), disapproving of it. Konami also uninvited them from a press event about Peace Walker. Not a very professional reaction, in my opinion.
Famitsu gives MGS Peace Walker top score
On April - 21 - 2010
Famitsu, the biggest and most influential Japanese video game magazine, have gotten their hand on the latest installment of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Peace Walker, and awarded it with their highest score possible.
Famitsu are notorious for only giving the 40/40 score to the very top game, so when you saw it, you would know that the game has merit. To achieve it, all 4 reviewers looking at the game have to give it a 10. Among the few titles that have gotten the famed 40 are the original Soul Calibur, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the first title to get the score since the magazines’ inception in 1986.
The scores seem to be more lax lately, though. Out of the 13 titles to have gotten the score before Peace Walker, 7 of them are from 2008 and 2009, which leads to gamers saying the score is more diluted than before.
How do you think this PSP game will play? It DOES have the full Kojima machine behind it, but is it as good as, say, Vagrant Story or MGS4, two other top-scoring games?
Kojima says he’ll leave industry if he “messes up” next project
On April - 15 - 2010
Hideo Kojima is making a new game, and shocked of horrors, it has none of the following words in its title – Metal, Gear or Solid. And ff the game doesn’t work out as planned? He will leave the gaming industry forever.
“The next project will challenge a certain type of taboo. If I mess up, I’ll probably have to leave the industry.”
“However, I don’t want to pass by avoiding that. I turn 47 this year. It’s been 24 years since I started making games. Today, I got an ally who would happily support me in that risk. Although it’s just one person. For a start, it’s good”.
Mind you, this is the same man who also swore to retire from the Metal Gear Solid series after Metal Solid 2… and 3… and 4…
If fans want it, No More Heroes 3 will happen
On March - 16 - 2010
In an interview with NowGamer, Grasshopper boss Goichi Suda said that although No More Heroes 2 wraps up the story of Travis Touchdown, No More Heroes 3 has a possibility of existing.
The catch? Fan demand has to be high enough to realize this idea.
“I want to conclude Travis Touchdown’s story with this game,” said Suda.
“But No More Heroes 2 is really for fans of the first one, so if I get a lot of response from the fans asking for a No More Heroes 3 – and as long as Rising Star make a lot of sales – then it’s possible that we could do a third game.”
When asked if he would ever do with No More Heroes what Kojima is doing with Metal Gear Solid and continue a series for a long while, he said:
“I think the reason that Kojima keeps on making Metal Gear Solid games is because he gets so many requests from his fans, and people who want to see more Snake. If people sincerely want to see more Travis Touchdown, I think it’s my responsibility to meet their requests.”
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Escape is already available stateside and has an expected release of April for European territories.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker delayed, Kojima miffed about it
On February - 1 - 2010
So it’s happened again: an anticipated title has gotten possessed by the dreaded delay ghost, and this time it’s Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. This was announced in a statement issued by Konami over the weekend. The delay has come as a surprise after both retail posters for the game had been printed, and the promotional site for the game was launched mere days ago.
“Unfortunately, we require more time in order to make the final adjustments and it is with the greatest regret that we have decided to change the release date for this product.
We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause customers who have already placed orders for this product or who are eagerly awaiting its release, as well as other concerned parties.”
The game’s producer, Hideo Kojima, is less than pleased with the game’s delay, as announced in Kojima Productions own blog:
“I always preach to the staff, ‘You must not have a delay after a release date has been announced. There is no greater crime as a game developer.’ Official announcement of a release date is nothing less than a promise to fans and business partners. In other words, a release date change is like betraying the expectations of everyone.”
The History of Adventure Games Part 2: The Fall
On November - 24 - 2009
Once upon a time, adventure games were the proverbial kings of PC gaming, entertaining gamers everywhere with a heavy focus on well-written stories and strong, realistic characters. Adventure games had their best run during the late 80′s and early 90′s, before suddenly dying out. So what happened to the adventure games, and where are they now?
In this three part series, we’ll be taking a look at the history of the adventure game and possibly try to predict a future for them as well.
In this second instalment we take a look at the decline and near eradication of adventure games
Hideo Kojima promises Zone of the Enders 3
On October - 29 - 2009
How on Earth did I let this one run past me? Last week, Hideo Kojima promised us the long awaited return of a franchise many have been clamouring for while Kojima himself has been hard at work on the Metal Gear Solid Games. I’m talking, of course, about Zone of the Enders.
According to Kojima’s blog, the feedback from the announcement was “greater than [he'd] expected. The biggest surprise, however, was the reaction from various Konami staff. People eager to work with Kojima have been catching up to him in elevators and around the office, begging to be a part of the game’s development.
Kojima promises the sequel will happen, but tells everyone to be patient and “wait a little more”. Personally I think it’s wonderful to see Kojima spend time on something else than Metal Gear Solid.
New MGS: Peace Walker video from TGS ’09
On September - 24 - 2009
A nine minute trailer, and some gameplay videos for the PSP-exclusive Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker surfaced at the Tokyo Game Show today, and they’re really quite impressive to look at.
If these haven’t been digitally enhanced then colour me very impressed. It looks as good as (if not better) than the PS2 games did, and those still look impressive even now.
It’s important to note that while the game looks as good as the PS2 titles, the game employs all the improved gameplay mechanics from Metal Gear Solid 4, such over-the-shoulder aiming, improved close quarters combat, and a forward facing camera angle instead of the older titles overhead view.
Check them out after the cut.
MGS: Peacewalker cast revealed
On September - 23 - 2009
The cast list for Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker. Fans of the franchise will no doubt be pleased by the appearance of Master Miller on the list.
Check out the full cast below.
- Snake
- Amanda
- Huey
- Chico
- Strangelove
- Coldman
- Cecile
- Miller
- Paz
- Galvez
Kojima discusses involvement in new Castlevania
On July - 1 - 2009
Chatting to Famitsu recently, Kojima explained his “support” role in the involvement of the new next-gen Castlevania, and discusses the reasons for some of the decisions behind the game’s design process.
“Kojima Productions is playing more of a support role,” Kojima told to Famitsu. “Castlevania is one of Konami’s most important brands, one that’s seen many releases since the original, and they’ve all been received warmly, but there’s never been a Castlevania created to really satisfy Western gamers. People like Dave were influenced by Castlevania to become game designers, and now they’re making titles like God of War.
E3 2009: Konami press conference rundown
On June - 4 - 2009
The Konami press conference was naturally going to be an interesting one, simply due to the universal love for Hideo Kojima, and the hope that we would hear more about the previously announced Metal Gear Solid: Rising and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. There was also hope that we would find out about the mysterious MASK project, which had unsurprisingly fell under the radar with the Metal Gear hype machine chugging away.
The press conference started a bit late due to the number of press in attendance. People had spotted Kojima about so the general feeling was that it was to be a good conference. After a brief montage of what we were going to see today (which included stuff we had seen before, but also some new releases), the Executive Vice President of Konami came up on stage.
